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At least one child sex offence a day was reported to Leicestershire Police over the last year, new figures reveal.

A total of 444 were reported to the force – an increase of 3% on the previous year’s total of 430 - according to figures obtained by children’s charity NSPCC.

The victims involved 376 girls and 67 boys in Leicestershire, with 21 aged under five and 52 aged five to eight.

The figures come from a Freedom of Information request to all 45 police forces across the country.

In the UK, reported child sex offences, including rape, grooming and sexual assault, reached a record high of more than 45,000 last year, totalling 124 a day or five every hour.

Nationally a total of 10,755 victims were aged under 10 and nearly 2,500 were too young to go to school.

The NSPCC said the figures only reveal a “small part of the whole picture” and called for the Government to increase its funding to support victims of sexual abuse.

NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said: “Sexual abuse can shatter a child’s mental health. It can leave them anxious, depressed and even suicidal. That is why it is crucial every single child who has endured abuse and needs support must get timely, thorough help so they can learn how to handle disturbing emotions and behaviours and rebuild their lives.

“Our It’s Time campaign demands that government make the mental health of abused children a priority so that some of the most vulnerable members of our society can start to recover.”

Det Supt Jon Brown, of the Leicestershire Police serious crime team, said: “We don’t see the increase in the number of offences reported to the force as being negative. It shows that victims are confident about coming forward and reporting what has happened to them.

“We take all reports extremely seriously and have specialist officers who can offer support and guidance to victims.